Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I, Part 73

Author: Fortier, Alcee, 1856-1914, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1294


USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 73


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79


On Jan. 14, 1829, the board of internal improvements made a re- port to the legislature regarding the damages wrought along the Mississippi river by floods, and urged the general assembly to in- voke the assistance of the general government in the construction of levees. Accordingly, on Feb. 5, the legislature adopted a reso- lution requesting the Louisiana senators and representatives in Congress to lay the matter before the U. S. corps of engineers. requesting that corps to make a survey of the places along the river that were liable to damage by overflow and suggest some plan for deepening the channel. Another resolution of the same date instructed the board of public improvements to take steps for the erection of levees and the cutting of canals or sluices connect- ing the lakes and the gulf, to draw off the overflow waters from the Mississippi. It is easier, however, to adopt resolutions and to forminlate great undertakings than to find the means of putting them into execution, and for lack of sufficient funds the elaborate


.


595


LOUISIANA


levee and canal system contemplated by the legislature was not carried out. To remedy this condition of affairs, the general as- .sembly passed an act, approved by Gov. Roman on March 4, 1833, creating a fund for internal improvements. "to be applied exclusive- ly to the purposes of rendering navigable, and uniting by canals, the principal water courses, and of more intimately connecting by public highways the different parts of the state."


The fund thus provided for was to consist of $20,000 annually, to be raised from duties collected on auction sales; arrearages on the same at that time of one year's standing; all sums of money received under the act of Congress of Feb. 16, 1811; and all ap- propriations of the legislature of Louisiana, or other states, or of the U. S. Congress. The fund was vested in a corporate body styled "The President and Directors of the Board of Public Works," to be composed of 9 citizens-3 from each Congressional district- the governor to be president ex-officio of the board. The act fur- ther provided that the governor, treasurer of state and attorney- general should constitute a special or subordinate board, to exer- cise control over the management and expenditure of the fund dur- ing recess. The board was authorized to subscribe in behalf of the state to such public works as the general assembly might di- rect, and it was required to keep a record of its proceedings and report annually to the legislature.


Under the operations of this law some progress was made, but in 1847 Gov. Isaac Johnson called attention in his message to the fact "that liberal appropriations have been made annually for sev- eral years for the improvement of interior navigation, but the re- sults are neither encouraging nor commensurate with the expendi- ture." Two years later, in Jan., 1849, he reiterated his former state- ments and urged some reform in the system, but the legislature seemed to be satisfied with conditions as they existed and for some time the work went along in much the same manner.


In the meantime a number of companies had been incorporated with power to construct canals, etc. One of the earliest of these corporations was the Barataria & Lafourche canal company, which was chartered by the act of Feb. 6, 1829, with a capital stock of $150,000, the governor to appoint 5 commissioners to receive sub- scriptions until the full amount of stock was taken. The company was authorized to construct a canal from the Mississippi river at Dugue's plantation in Jefferson parish to connect with Lake Per- rier, Salvador, Ouache or Barataria, with locks at the Mississippi, and was given power to levy toll upon all vessels passing through the canal. Subscriptions to the stock came in slowly, and the legislature. by the act of March 25, 1835. directed the state treas- urer to subscribe for 500 shares in the name of the state. By the same act the board of internal improvements was instructed and authorized to employ on the canal one-third of the slaves belong- ing to the state, which was to receive $150 per annum for each slave so employed. and this arrangement was to continue until the canal was completed, or until the entire amount of the state's sub-


596


LOUISIANA


scription should be paid. As frequently happened, the work dragged along, and as late as 1853 the legislature authorized the governor to appoint commissioners to modify the contract with the com- pany, no money to be paid unless an agreement was reached.


Following the incorporation of this company was that of the Lafourche & Terrebonne navigation company, with which the state had a similar experience. This company was granted a charter to improve the bayous Terrebonne, Black, Carpe and De Large, and to open one or more canals from Bayou Lafourche to Terrebonne, thence to the bayous Black, Carpe, Caillou and De Large, and through Bayou Black to Berwick bay. The capital stock was fixed at $100,000, and the company was granted the same rights and privileges as the Barataria & Lafourche canal company. These two companies present examples of how internal improvements were made by private corporations, aided by the state. In a few instances the work was prosecuted to a successful termination, but in a majority of cases the charter and credit of the state were ob- tained as a basis for speculation. The policy was continued, how- ever, until late in the 50's, one of the last of such corporations hav- ing been the Abita improvement company, which was incorporated for 25 years by the act of March 12, 1855, with a capital stock of $50,000 and power to build factories, plank-roads, railroads, etc.


Louisiana was not alone in her efforts to secure internal improve- ments by making liberal appropriations of the public revenues and granting generous charters to corporations, as nearly every west- ern and southern state passed through a similar experience. The Confederate war put an end to most of the internal improvement companies, and since that time internal improvements have been made along more rational lines. Levees have been constructed under the supervision and with the aid of the general govern- ment ; railroads have been built by private capital : highways and other local improvements have been made by the parishes levying a special tax or by issuing bonds for such specific purposes, and for every dollar expended the state has received a fair equivalent. (See also Levees, Railroads, Roads, etc.)


Invisible Empire .- (See Ku Klux Klan.)


Ion, a post-hamlet in the northeastern part of Tensas parish, is situated on the Mississippi river, about 4 miles east of Quimby, the nearest railroad station.


Iota, a village of Acadia parish, is situated in the western part on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 10 miles northwest of Crow- ley, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, express of- fice and telegraph station, and in 1900 had a population of 65.


Iowa, a village in the southeastern part of Calcasieu parish, is a station on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 13 miles east of Lake Charles, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, express office, telegraph station and telephone facilities, and is a shipping point of some consequence.


Irene, a post-village in the northwestern part of East Baton


-


·


59%


LOUISIANA


Rouge parish, is a station on the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation company, 12 miles northwest of Baton Rouge, the parish seat.


Irion, Alfred Briggs, lawyer and jurist, was born in Avoyelles parish, La., Feb. 18, 1833. He received his education at the Uni- versity of North Carolina, where he graduated in 1855; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. He became judge of the circuit court of appeals in 1880, which office he held for 4 years ; was elected to the 49th Congress as a Democrat, and after leav- ing Congress resumed the practice of law.


Irish Bend, one of the principal villages of St. Mary parish, is located on the Bayou Teche, about 5 miles northeast of Franklin, the parish seat, with which it is connected by a short line of rail- road called the East & West R. R. Further transportation facili- ties are afforded by the Southern Pacific steamers on the bayou. The village has a money order postoffice and telephone connec- tions with the surrounding towns, and in 1900 reported a popula- tion of 100. A battle was fought here on April 14, 1863, in which the Federals were at first defeated, but received reinforcements and rallied, when the Confederates were in turn forced back and the gunboat Diana was blown up and burned.


Irma, a post-village in the eastern part of Natchitoches parish, is a station on the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation company, 5 miles northeast of Natchitoches, the parish seat.


Iron .- Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia for 1885, p. 549, says: "Iron has recently been discovered in northwestern Louisiana. The iron country is an extensive district running in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction from Arkansas into Texas. At the upper and lower ends of the district the iron is being worked profit- ably." The upper end of the district referred to being in Arkan- sas, and the lower end in Texas, the above statement does not give much authentic information regarding the deposits of iron ore in Louisiana. A handbook published by the commissioner of agri- culture and immigration in 1904 says: "Iron ores occur in form of nodular secretions, or thin plates, in nearly all of the old tertiary beds, and occasionally in the Lafayette sands. They are badly scattered, and as yet have had no economic value, though selected - specimens give good results upon analysis, a few showing over 50 per cent. of metallic iron."


Isabel, a post-hamlet and station of Washington parish, is on the New Orleans Great Northern R. R., abont 15 miles southeast of Franklinton, the parish seat.


Island, a village in the southeastern part of Pointe Coupée par- ish, is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 4 miles south- east of New Roads, the parish seat. It has a money order post- office and telegraph station.


Ivan, a post-village in the northeastern part of Bossier parish. is a station on the Bodcan Valley R. R., about 12 miles northeast of Benton, the parish seat.


.


598


LOUISIANA


J


.


1


Jack, a post-hamlet in the central part of St. Helena parish, is situated on a confluent of the Tickfaw river, about 5 miles south of Greensburg, the parish seat, and 3 miles northwest of Mayer, the nearest railroad station.


Jackson, a town in the western part of East Feliciana parish, is situated on Thompson's creek at the junction of the Jackson and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley railroads, and about 12 miles west of Clinton, the parish seat. It is one of the old towns of Louisiana, incorporated by an act of the legislature April 2, 1832, and re- ceived its name in honor of Gen. Andrew Jackson. When the parish of Feliciana was created in 1811, this town became the par- ish seat and remained so until the old parish was divided in 1824 to form the parishes of East and West Feliciana. It is one of the largest towns in this portion of the state and is the seat of Cen- tenary college (Methodist Episcopal), which was organized in 1825, the Williams Female institute, the Louisiana Female Col- legiate institute and the state asylum for the insane. It has a number of beautiful churches, homes and mercantile establishments, a money order postoffice, a bank, telegraph and telephone facilities, and in 1900 reported a population of 2,012.


Jackson, Andrew, soldier and statesman, was born in what was known as the "Waxhaw Settlement." on the border between North and South Carolina, March 15, 1767. About 2 years before his birth his parents, Andrew and Elizabeth (Hutchinson) Jackson. came to America from the north coast of Ireland, and soon after settling in the Waxhaw district the father died, leaving to his widow a half-cleared farm, with no one to assist in its cultivation but her children. She was soon to be deprived of this help, for during the Revolutionary war Andrew and his two brothers took up arms in defense of their country. The elder brother was killed at the battle of Stono Ferry, and Andrew, though but 13 years old, served with his remaining brother under Gen. Sumter until the close of the war. His mother died while nursing American soldiers in prison at Charleston, S. C., and soon afterward his brother Robert died of small-pox. Under these circumstances Andrew's opportunities to acquire an education were extremely limited. In 1784 he began the study of law with Spruce MeKay at Salisbury, N. C., and about 3 years later, when only 20 years of age, he was appointed solicitor for the western district of South Carolina (now Tennessee). At that time he stood "six feet and an inch in his stockings, very slender, but not awkward, with a face long, thin and blonde : high narrow forehead, a mass of sandy hair, and deep blue eyes, which then and ever afterward could blaze into the fiercest expression when he was aroused." In 1788 Jackson reached Nashville and within the next 3 years had built up a suc- cessful law practice. In 1791 he married Rachel Robards, the di- vorced wife of Lewis Robards and a daughter of John Donelson.


599


LOUISIANA


one of the pioneers of Tennessee. After the marriage it was dis- covered that the decree of divorce was not yet effective and a sec- ond ceremony was performed 2 years later. This romance caused several misunderstandings in after years, one of which resulted in a duel between Jackson and Charles Dickinson, in which Jackson had a rib broken and Dickinson was killed. In 1796 Jackson was a delegate to the Tennessee constitutional convention and the same year was elected to Congress. The following year he was elected to the U. S. senate, but resigned in 1798 to become one of the su- preme judges of Tennessee. Notwithstanding these civic honors, he was more of a warrior than a statesman, and on several occa- sions had abandoned his professional duties to make war on the Indians. When the War of 1812 began he was living on his farm near Nashville. though he held the rank of major-general in the Tennessee militia. He soon gathered together over 2,000 of his men and offered his services and theirs to the government, but the offer was not accepted. In the winter of 1812-13 he received orders to reinforce Gen. Wilkinson at New Orleans, and on Jan. 7, 1813, left Nashville for that purpose. On Feb. 15 he arrived with his command at Natchez, where he received orders from the war de- partment to disband his men and turn over all public stores and property in his possession to Wilkinson. "This amounted prac- tically to an order to disband 500 miles from home, without pay, means of transport or commissariat or hospital stores; but Jack- son determined to permit no such outrage as this, and, though in disobedience of orders, marched his troops back in a body to their own state, reaching Nashville May 22, 1813." Later in that year and in 1814 he was active in overcoming the hostile tribes of In- dians in Alabama, Florida and Georgia, and on May 31, 1814, was made a major-general in the U. S. army. After driving the British from Pensacola he was appointed to the command of the army at New Orleans and arrived in that city on Dec. 2, 1814. One of his first acts was to ask the legislature to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, in order that Commodore Patterson might impress seamen, but the legislature refused to comply, and also refused to adjourn at the request of the governor. Martin says that Jackson then "issued a general order, putting the city of New Orleans and its environs under strict martial law, and directed that every individ- ual entering the city should report himself to the adjutant-general's office, and on failure be arrested and held for examination. None should be permitted to leave the city or Bayou St. John, without a passport from the general or some of his staff. No vessel, boat or craft, should leave the city or Bayou St. John, without such a pass- port, or that of the commodore. The lamps of the city to be ex- tinguished at nine o'clock, after which every person found in the streets or out of his usual place of residence. without a pass or the countersign, to be apprehended as a spy and held for examination."


This order caused some dissatisfaction among the people, but as the British were approaching the city they submitted and joined in the measures for the common defense. Other incidents occurred


600


LOUISIANA


while Jackson was in command at New Orleans by which his in- petuous nature brought him into conflict with the civil authorities. On Dec. 28, 1814, while the American and British forces were en- gaged, he received a rumor that the legislature was "about to give up the country to the enemy" and sent word to Gov. Claiborne "to make strict inquiry into the subject, and if true, to blow them up." An investigation exonerated the legislature, which then extended a vote of thanks "to all those who had in the slightest degree con- tributed to the defense of the state, except Gen. Jackson." A num- ber of French subjects in New Orleans were encouraged by the French consul to enlist under Jackson's standard. After the Brit- ish were driven from the state, these men wanted to return to their - families and obtained from the consul certificates as to their na- tionality, thus securing their discharge from the army. So many of these certificates appeared that Jackson suspected them of be- ing improperly issued by the consul. On Feb. 28. 1815, he issued an order for all French subjects to leave the city within three days and retire into the interior. When the consul, on the recommenda- tion of Gov. Claiborne, was preparing to invoke the aid of the courts on behalf of his countrymen. he was ordered out of the city, "which order was instantly obeyed." Three days later there ap- pcared in the Courier de la Louisiane a communication signed by Louis Louallier, a native of France and the member of the legisla- ture from the county of Opelousas, making severe strictures on Jackson for issuing such an order. Martial law still prevailed, and on Sunday, March 5, Louallier was arrested by Jackson's order. The prisoner applied to Judge Hall of the U. S. district court for a writ of habeas, which was granted, but Jackson refused to recog- nize the writ, and ordered the arrest of the judge for "aiding. abetting and exciting mutiny in my camp." (Sce Hall, Dominick A., and Louallier, Louis.) Mr. Dick, the U. S. district attorney, came to the assistance of the judge and applied to Judge Lewis, one of the district judges of the state, for a writ of habeas corpus, whereupon Jackson had Dick arrested and confined in the barracks along with Hall and Louallier. Soon after this martial law was revoked, and on the 21st Dick brought proceedings against Jackson by moving for a rule to show cause why a process of attachment should not issue against the general for contempt of court. He was sentenced to pay a fine of $1,000 and costs and immediately signed a check for the amount. When the general left the court room his carriage was drawn by his friends and admirers to the Exchange coffee house, where he made a speech admonishing them to "remember the example he had given them of respectful sub- mission to the administration of justice." His friends insisted on refunding to him the amount of the fine and costs, but he refused to accept it. In 1843 the legislature of Louisiana asked Congress to refund the fine with interest, and promised. that in case Con- gress failed to do so, the state would reimburse him. On the recom- mendation of President Tyler, Congress made an appropriation of a sum sufficient to refund the original amount of the fine, with in-


601


LOUISIANA


terest for 30 years. After the excitement due to martial law and Jackson's sensational arrests had died away the people took a more friendly view of Jackson and a higher appreciation of his serv- ices. On several occasions he was an honored guest of New Or- leans or the State of Louisiana. He received 3 of the 5 electoral votes of the state when he ran for president in 1824; all 5 of the votes in 1828 and again in 1832: the name of the Place d'Armes was changed to Jackson Square in his honor, and in that square stands one of the finest equestrian statues in the world, erected by a grateful people to the memory of the "Hero of New Orleans." Gen. Jackson died at his home, "The Hermitage," near Nashville, June 8, 1845, and was buried in a corner of his garden by the side of his wife's remains, their resting place being marked by a massive monument of Tennessee limestone.


Jackson Parish, established in 1845, during the administration of Gov. Alexander Mouton. was created from a part of Claiborne par- ish. All this country was known as the "Natchitoches District" when held by France and Spain, and the early history of Jackson is that of Natchitoches and Claiborne parishes. It has an undulat- ing surface of 574 square miles; is situated in the north-central part of the state: is bounded on the north by Lincoln parish : on the east by Ouachita and Caldwell parishes: on the south by Winn parish, and on the west by Bienville and Claiborne parishes. The parish seat is Vernon, a little north of the center of the parish. A small log building was used for the first court house, but it was replaced by a two-story frame building until the present court house was built. Jackson parish belongs to what are known as the "hill parishes." The general surface of the country is rolling and rises in many places to considerable pine hills, while scattered throughout the parish are broad creek bottoms, and many springs are found in various localities. Water is abundant and good for both stock and domestic purposes. The largest and most impor- tant streams are the Dugdemona river and the Bayous Castor and Beaucoup. The soil is of several varieties, principally sandy loam, fertile in the bottom lands, which are of alluvial formation, mod- erately rich in the uplands, and yield abundantly. Cotton is the principal crop, though corn, oats, hay, sorghum, sweet and Irish potatoes, peas, sugar-cane, wheat, rye and barley are all grown with profit, as are all kinds of fruit and nuts common to this part of the state. The live stock industry, which until lately was neg- lected, is growing rapidly owing to the shipping facilities now af- forded, and the excellent grass lands of the parish, where stock can graze almost the entire year. Dairying has increased and is a very profitable industry as carried on by the small farmer. Like sev- eral of the other northern parishes Jackson is not thickly settled. as railroads are recent. There are no cities, but a number of live and flourishing towns and villages, the most important of which are Vernon, Jonesboro. Chathamville. Hoods Mills, Rochester, Spencer, Quitman, Nash and Womack. Schools are maintained for both black and white. When the parish was organized it con-


LOUISIANA


tained a population of 5,566, which has gradually increased. The following statistics are taken from the U. S. census for 1900: num- ber of farms. 1,497 : acreage, 195,171 ; acres under cultivation, 55,- 501 ; value of land and improvements exclusive of buildings, $482,- 760; value of farm buildings, $177,700; value of live stock, $237,- 055 ; value of all products not fed to live stock, $430,515. The popu- lation of the parish for 1900 was 5,915 whites, 3.204 colored, a total of 9,119, an increase of 1.666 over the year 1890. The estimated population for the year 1908 was over 10,000.


(In 1908 a bill was introduced in the Louisiana legislature to ' authorize a vote to be taken in the parish on the question of mor- ing the seat of justice from Vernon to some other point. A two- thirds majority will be required to change the site and it is prob- able Jonesboro and Chathamville will become rivals for the honor.)


Jackson Square, a public park in New Orleans, was first known as the "Place d'Armes," and was set aside as a parade ground when Bienville had the location of the new capital laid out in 1718. It served, as in European cities, as a parade ground for the troops of the garrison. From the beginning the Place d'Armes was the same rectangular shape it is today, larger only by the width of the present sidewalks around it, an open plat of coarse, native grass, crossed by two diagonal paths, occupying the exact middle of the town front. Behind it a like amount of ground was reserved for ecclesiastic uses, on the front half of which was built the St. Louis cathedral (q.v.). This is one of the most noted spots in Louisiana. Here the French troops were reviewed, and all the most impor- tant public meetings of the colony took place in the square. In the center was planted a flag staff. from which at different epochs in the history of the province floated the royal banners of France, Spain, and the United States. This quaint old square has wit- nessed many an important event in the history of Louisiana, for on this spot the different transfers of the province have taken place. (See Transfer of Louisiana.) The square was originally founded on the upper and lower sides by a row of old Spanish buildings, which belonged to the Baroness de Pontalba, who had these buildings torn down and erected dwellings with stores be- neath. At the same time she improved the square, had it laid out in the French style and planted with flowers and shrubs. When the monument of Gen. Jackson was erected in the square, the name was changed to Jackson Square in his honor.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.